Showing posts with label novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label novels. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Discover Your Next Favorite Read This Christmas!

As the holiday season approaches, there’s no better time to dive into a new book. Whether you’re a fan of historical fiction, contemporary short stories, action-packed adventures, or thrilling sci-fi, we have something for everyone. Check out our diverse collection of titles and find your perfect holiday read!

Our Titles:

The Briton and the Dane: Five tales of historical intrigue and romance.

Crusader’s Path: A journey of faith and valor in medieval times.

 Forgiving Nero: A gripping tale of redemption and forgiveness.

 Scribbler Tales: Contemporary short stories that capture the essence of modern life.

 AnaRose Action Adventure Novellas: Non-stop action and heart-pounding suspense.

 Planetary Wars: Sci-fi battles that will take you to the edge of the universe.

 Don’t miss out on these captivating stories! Visit https://www.maryannbernal.com/ today. Happy reading!




 

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Book spotlight and excerpt: Muskets and Minuets by Lindsey S. Fera

 

Love. Politics. War.

Amidst mounting tensions between the British crown and the American colonists of Boston, Annalisa Howlett struggles with her identity and purpose as a woman. Rather than concern herself with proper womanly duties, like learning to dance a minuet or chasing after the eligible and charming Jack Perkins, Annalisa prefers the company of her brother, George, and her beloved musket, Bixby. She intends to join the rebellion, but as complications in her personal life intensify, and the colonies inch closer to war with England, everything Annalisa thought about her world and womanhood are transformed forever.

Join Annalisa on her journey to discover what it truly means to be a woman in the 18th century, all set against the backdrop of some of the most pivotal moments in American history.

Trigger Warnings:

Violence and battle scenes, sexual assault, mild sexual content, and profanity.

 


 Buy Links:

 Amazon UK   Amazon US   Amazon CA   Amazon AU

 ¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) ( ¸.•´

EXCERPT

The following night, Jack sat in Aunt Catherine’s parlor on Tory Row in Cambridge. Oliver sat silently sipping his brandy, but Father’s round face glowed redder than a boiled beet as he stood by the fireplace.

“Three-hundred-forty-two crates of tea into the harbor. The Gazette is calling it ‘the late transaction in Boston’.”

News of the ransack had spread like smallpox. Father paced before the hearth and puffed his pipe, while Aunt Catherine and Oliver looked on, their faces twisted with grievous doubt.

Jack stood tall. “I hear it was organized, sir. A peaceful protest.”

“Peaceful or not, ’twas an act of treason. I hardly agree with the Tea Act, or the control Parliament and the East India Company have imparted on tea. But I daresay, we may end up paying the duty anyhow. The ruffians, those Sons of Liberty.”

“But sir, it was said not a single item else on board those ships was so much as touched.”

“How could you know such information?” Oliver’s eyes narrowed. “Were you there? Did you partake in this traitorous event?”

Jack fisted his hands under the scrutiny. “I was not.”

“You were,” Oliver jeered. “I found a hatchet in your trunk last night, covered in soot. And you still bear the remnant of lampblack under your fingernails. Are you entirely determined to sully our family name at all cost?”

Jack glanced at his hands. He’d taken great care to clip and clean his nails when he returned from the raid, but the soot was embedded.

Father’s nostrils flared and he grabbed Jack’s hands. “You didn’t.”

“No. Of course not.” Jack pulled free and crossed his arms. “Ollie, you dare accuse me of treason?”

“Admit your treachery, you rebellious lout. You humiliated our family enough while we were in France.” 

“You lie.”

“Ollie, for shame.” Aunt Catherine frowned.

Father set down his pipe. “Jack, is this true?”

Oliver faced Father. “Sir, Jack made no attempt to conceal his connection with the rebels. He sought any Frenchman at Versailles who would hear his plights for freedom in the colonies. And this was all in the presence of Lord General Cornwallis. I am sure the gentleman overheard the nature of his treasonous tongue.”

Father’s forehead vein bulged. “Jack, I know where your principles lie, but to engage in such topics of discussion at a ball?”

“No, sir, he lies.” Jack ground his teeth. “Ollie, that account is false. I spoke with one gentleman by the name of Beauregard, who sought me out. The exchange was brief and cordial. That was exactly how the intercourse went, and your rotten Tory self knows it.”

“Enough.” Father slammed his fist against the fireplace mantel. A small reverberating wave rattled the clock and wavered the candle flames. Jack and Oliver stood at attention. “Tory, Patriot. These are mere words. Remember, you are brothers above these.” He regarded Jack, his face no longer red with anger. “I want to believe you. And Ollie, I’ll be damned if you slander your brother with indecency. I’m no Tory. You both know that. But neither am I radical. Jack, you must look to gentlemanly ways of dissent. I’ll not have one son gallivanting about with the Sons of Liberty while the other accuses his own brother of treason.”


Lindsey S. Fera 

A born and bred New Englander, Lindsey hails from the North Shore of Boston. A member of the Topsfield Historical Society and the Historical Novel Society, she forged her love for writing with her intrigue for colonial America by writing her debut novel, Muskets and Minuets. When she's not attending historical reenactments or spouting off facts about Boston, she's nursing patients back to health in the ICU.

 Social Media Links:

 Website   Twitter   Facebook   Instagram   Amazon Author Page   Goodreads





Monday, October 1, 2018

About The Briton and the Dane: Concordia by Mary Ann Bernal





About the story:

Travel back in time to late Ninth Century Anglo-Saxon Britain where Alfred the Great governs with a benevolent hand while the Danish King rules peacefully within the boundaries of the Danelaw. Trade flourishes, and scholars from throughout the civilized world flock to Britannia’s shores to study at the King’s Court School at Winchester.

Meet Concordia, a beautiful noblewoman whose family is favored by the king. Vain, willful, and admired, but ambitious and cunning, Concordia is not willing to accept her fate. She is betrothed to the valiant warrior, Brantson, but sees herself as far too young to lay in the bedchamber of an older suitor. She wants to see the wonders of the world, embracing everything in it; preferably, but dangerously, at the side of Thayer, the exotic Saracen who charms King Alfred’s court and ignites her yearning passions.

Concordia manipulates her besotted husband into taking her to Rome, but her ship is captured by bloodthirsty pirates, and the seafarers protecting her are ruthlessly slain to a man. As she awaits her fate in the Moorish captain’s bed, by sheer chance, she discovers that salvation is at hand in the gilded court of a Saracen nobleman.

While awaiting rescue, Concordia finds herself at the center of intrigue, plots, blackmail, betrayal and the vain desires of two egotistical brothers, each willing to die for her favor. Using only feminine cunning, Concordia must defend her honor while plotting her escape as she awaits deliverance, somewhere inside steamy, unconquered Muslim Hispania.

About picking the topic:

My lifelong dream was to write a novel about Erik, the Viking, after having seen such Hollywood blockbusters as The Vikings, The Longships, and other period movies including King Arthur, and Knights of the Round Table. When it came time to put pen to paper, Alfred the Great’s reign was the perfect backdrop for my story.

About how The Briton and the Dane: Concordia differs from other books that cover the same or similar information;

The Briton and the Dane trilogy is an epic adventure, which includes several storylines with multiple characters. Concordia was three-years-old in the final novel of the original series.

In the offshoot story, Concordia has come of age in a turbulent era where women were expected to behave according to societal standards. Her story runs the emotional gamut of love and betrayal, and while her struggle may not be unique, her story is deeply personal and poignant.

The novel delves into Concordia's psyche where the reader witnesses her turmoil as she suffers the consequences of unwise decisions. Was Concordia's judgment clouded by emotion or was she a product of her environment?  Concordia picked up the gauntlet fearlessly, with an iron will to survive. If she were a man, would she have been judged differently? There were mitigating circumstances, after all.   Would you cut her some slack?  Whether you like her or not is irrelevant. Justice is rendered based upon facts, not emotion. What say the jury?

About what was liked most when writing this book:

I enjoyed shedding light on the reason why someone did what they did, right or wrong. It is easy to be judgmental without knowing the whole story. I understand Concordia, do you?


Mary Ann Bernal is a passionate supporter of the United States military, having been involved with letter writing campaigns and other military support programs since Operation Desert Storm.  She has appeared on The Morning Blend television show hosted by KMTV, the CBS television affiliate in Omaha, and was interviewed by the Omaha World-Herald for her volunteer work.


Purchase
Print, e-book, and audiobook formats

Amazon US     Amazon UK    Audible     Barnes and Noble    iTunes    Smashwords

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Read an Ebook Week 2018 Smashwords Sale from March 4 - 10.


Author Mary Ann Bernal is participating in the Read an Ebook Week Smashwords Sale from March 4 - 10, 2018. All her novels and short story collections are available at either a reduced price or are free. Why not stop by her profile page and have a look?  Click here to find all of Mary Ann Bernal's works.


The Story Behind ‘Read an eBook Week’ 

 By Mark Coker
Blog post originally published 2010, updated 2017

For one week each year, Rita Toews, 61, a soft-spoken mother of two and grandmother of one, sits at the center of the ebook universe.



 Operating from a spare bedroom in her home in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada with her cat Lola by her side (“Every author needs a cat,” she says), Ms. Toews is the creator and chief ringmaster of Read an Ebook Week, an annual international celebration of ebooks that kicks off its seventh season this Sunday March 7.

 Read an Ebook Week brings together ebook retailers, publishers, authors, device-makers and untold thousands of readers who join in this international literary event of ebook discovery, and yes, gluttony.

For the one week only, publishers and authors offer thousands of original ebooks for free and at deep discounts to encourage book lovers around the globe to give ebooks a try.

Ms. Toews, with her website at ebookweek.com, acts as a centralized clearinghouse to help readers locate participating authors and retailers. By harnessing the collective promotional power of thousands of enthusiastic authors and readers who funnel traffic through Ms. Toews’ web site, participating authors, publishers and retailers see large spikes in traffic and downloads during the week.

To read the interview in its entirety, click here.


Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Book Review - Planetary Wars: Rise of an Empire by Mary Ann Bernal


R.B.
5.0 out of 5 stars

Science fiction at it's finest!

February 15, 2018

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

Planetary Wars Rise of an Empire by Mary Ann Bernal is a suspenseful ride into the unknown. A place none of us have ever been to or would be able to experience in our lifetime. That is what makes this fantasy so irresistible. The story reads true to life but is more exciting and powerfully exhilarating. It’s a dark tale of lies and destruction. The drama continues throughout and I got caught up in a web of deceit.

There is an old fashion quality to this tale. If you are a Star Trek fan I imagine you will appreciate the non-stop misadventures into unchartered territory.

The author writes a compelling story that pulled me in right away and made me feel as if the characters were real, though of course, from another planet. Such a nice escape!

“The whirlwind romance contributed to Anastasia’s inner turmoil. She usually had a good grip on her emotions, but with Jayden, she was no longer disciplined. Every rational thought was discarded while her heart ruled.”

The romantic exchange makes this more than just a fantasy. So much more. The heart wants what the heart wants. And at all costs, so it seems.

Click for purchase information